Exo 12:12 | NETfull | STEP | I will pass through the land of Egypt in the same night, and I will attack all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of humans and of animals, and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord .

Exodus 12:12

12 I will pass through ^{▼▼ The verb וְעָבַרְתִּי (v^e’avarti) is a Qal perfect with vav (ו) consecutive, announcing the future action of God in bringing judgment on the land. The word means “pass over, across, through.” This verb provides a contextual motive for the name “Passover.”} the land of Egypt in the same ^{▼▼ Heb “this night.”} night, and I will attack ^{▼▼ The verb נָכָה (nakhah) means “to strike, smite, attack”; it does not always mean “to kill,” but that is obviously its outcome in this context. This is also its use in 2:12, describing how Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.} all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of humans and of animals, ^{▼▼ Heb “from man and to beast.”} and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. ^{▼▼ The phrase אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים (’e’eseh sh^efatim) is “I will do judgments.” The statement clearly includes what had begun in Exod 6:1. But the statement that God would judge the gods of Egypt is appropriately introduced here (see also Num 33:4) because with the judgment on Pharaoh and the deliverance from bondage, Yahweh would truly show himself to be the one true God. Thus, “I am Yahweh” is fitting here (see B. Jacob, Exodus, 312).} I am the Lord.